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csaurabh wrote:Ok, I'll have to get a twitter account for that purpose

From my interaction with govt. babus, it seems like every office has its own internal 'office babu culture' and everyone external to that is basically 'the enemy', that is why babooze act this way. That is why everything is chalta hain onlee..

csaurabh wrote:Done, let's hope they are more responsive than the babus in MoD/Niti Aayog.

I suggested this because I had once made a suggestion to the air force and after some time i got a mail from a air force ID if I was happy with the response if not asking me to reply to the mail. Hope yours also gets good response and keep checking through the link you get through mail

Cochin Shipyard, largest ship building and repairing facility in the country, expects to put through around Rs 15,000 crore worth of orders in the next five years. That includes the building of an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) Corvette and an aircraft carrier for the navy.

Expansion plans, including a drydock within the shipyard and facilities in Mumbai, Kolkata and Port Blair, for a total of Rs 2,500 crore would be readied during this period, said Madhu S Nair, chairman. "Unlike in other industries, we will not see this signed, documented and sealed at each point of time but the visibility in front of us is around Rs 15,000 crore.

"For the aircraft carrier, we have some post-delivery commitments. All these contracts have to be executed in at least four to five years,” he said.

The company is in advanced stages of finalising a contract to build the ASW corvette, as the project’s lowest bidder. The project is to produce eight such vessels for a total value of Rs 5,400 crore. The contract is expected to be signed before the end of next month.

The aircraft carrier project is expected to see the third phase of building activities to commence by December or the early part of 2019. The price has a fixed and a cost-plus part to the contract, seamless across the three phases. The phase-III fixed price and cost-plus part is remaining.

Delivery of the vessel is scheduled for February 2021 (WTBF) and the company is close to attaining that target, said Nair.The signed and remaining works in the order book is around Rs 18 billion including a Rs 513 crore out of the total value of Rs 2,848 crore of the aircraft carrier project. (Still significant work remaining after more then a decade of building time)

The expansion projects are on track, including nearly Rs 1,800 crore for a new drydock, targeted to complete in June 2021. “We started initial ground preparation work in May, awarding the contract to Larson & Toubro. "The ground-breaking ceremony took place this October. The project is expected to be completed in three years,” said the chairman.

An international ship repair facility is also being built (in Kochi), with an investment of Rs 970 crore, the target being next November.

It is also developing a small ship building facility in Kolkata, under a joint venture named Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Ltd, with investment of Rs 160 crore.This is to make inland vessels. Construction is expected to start by the end of December and operations to commence by 2020.

It is also planning to commence operations in a ship repair facility it took over from Mumbai Port Trust, by the coming January, the investment being Rs 80 crore to Rs 100 crore. Also a ship repair facility in Kolkata (Rs 15-18 crore) and at Port Blair. This would be funded by the government.

The company earlier signed an agreement with Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation, to work together for designing, development and construction of vessels for inland and coastal shipping.

Well I guess we are learning building our first Aircraft carrier, hope IAC-2 and 3 with better sized lifts are constructed soon- even if they are 65tonne class, I hope EMALS with the flat deck is reserved for IAC-4, we need to start building 2-3 carrier concurrently rather than this 1 at a time approach.

Last date for application was 31st October. Now it is 10 days since and...I have not received any acknowledgement of my application (beyond an application id generated)They have no phone number.They don't answer any emails.They don't update their website.Another person whom I know applied has not received any response either.No idea what is happening next.

Wah re babooze.

Been a week since this post, and yes, nothing has changed! No responses from PMO or Niti Ayog.Instead of importing aeroplanes at great cost, we really should think about importing good quality babus for much lower cost. It might be a better investment.If anyone here knows anyone else applying to IDEX or by chance if they know someone in NITI Ayog, this would be a good time to help.

csaurabh wrote:Been a week since this post, and yes, nothing has changed! No responses from PMO or Niti Ayog.Instead of importing aeroplanes at great cost, we really should think about importing good quality babus for much lower cost. It might be a better investment.If anyone here knows anyone else applying to IDEX or by chance if they know someone in NITI Ayog, this would be a good time to help.

Don't loose heart. GoI will never be efficient the way we would like. Defence in India is a tough field and needs lots of effort and patience.

Here is a Indian innovator I found on twitter, who holds a patent on APS design. He is recognized by MoD as well.

Do get in touch with him and see how to go about in case you are able to patent your ideas.

This video confirms SSPL has X band GaN HEMT for RF at 5 watt in 2017. If I am not wrong 10-15 Watts would allow us to use GaN in fighter radar.There are some info floating on internet that we have reached 10 watt and GAETEC is able to repeat the process. Cannot confirm.

::"Our nation is developing systems to defend ourselves from ballistic missiles of more capability," he said at the North Eastern Council headquarters in Meghalaya.

He said the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also developing Program AD ballistic missile system, which will be more capable of interception.

"After Triumpf, it is going to be an Indian system (Program Air Defence) which will be more capable. It will not only intercept within our own atmosphere but also outside," he said.::"We have tasted success. I was skeptical as anyone else would be, but having seen the Program functions, I think it is just a matter of a few minor glitches and other issues to be set right. We have a very capable air defence system and more importantly, it is 'Make in India' system, which will be more cost-effective, more widely available for us with little secrecy because everything will be known by us," the Air Marshal said.::On China's stealth fighter jets, Nambiar who test-flew the Rafale jet in France, said, "We believe we have the capability to defeat the Chinese with what we have at the moment. What happens in the future is another question. But today, we believe that we have the resources, the ability, the training and the ability to defeat at a particular level, but tomorrow is another new day."

Asked how potent the Indian Air Force is in its airspace, Nambiar said, "Our neighbourhood is dangerous. We have nuclear-armed neighhbours who have designs and claims on what belongs to us. So it is best to be well prepared and forewarned."

"We believe we have deterrence today. We have the strength, the capability. We have forces both in theatres as well as outside," Nambiar said.

On China's developing airfields in the Tibet region, the Air Marshal said, "We are geographically blessed. We have airfields which are at a low altitude and almost at sea level. Most of our airfields are at 400 feet and therefore our aircraft can lift a lot of load."

"The HAL's Helicopter Division in Bengaluru received the first batch of helicopter structures and sub-assemblies manufactured by NAeL, Prayagraj, for ALH (Dhruv)," the city-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) said in a statement here.

The state-run aerospace major's chairman and managing director R. Madhavan opened a structural assembly shop for production of helicopter structures at NAeL about two months ago. "With the handing over of helicopter structures, NAeL has developed capabilities in the field of aero-structures apart from aircraft loom manufacturing," said NAeL chairman V.M. Chamola in the statement.

The company, however, did not disclose to the media the unit's capacity, set up at what cost and how many employed. The Naini unit of state-run sick Hindustan Cables Ltd (HCL) was shut for nearly 15 years. It was taken over by NAeL, a subsidiary of HAL on February 1, 2017.

The ageing manpower of HCL was absorbed in the company and trained with skills required in the aerospace sector. The infrastructure for aero-structures and aircraft loom manufacturing were set up in a year. The subsidiary commenced production of wire harnesses of helicopter and aircraft in July 2017.

The company had made its maiden delivery of aircraft looms (electrical cables to transmit signals or power through an aircraft) to HAL on March 27. It has manufactured about 600 aircraft looms for ALH and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighters.

Instead of throwing around large numbers without context, GoI should come out with the breakup of the money spent buying arms in it's 5years by following categories - 1. Indian designed and manufactured 2. Screwdriverigiri 3. Direct imports. Might give a completely different story.

Instead of throwing around large numbers without context, GoI should come out with the breakup of the money spent buying arms in it's 5years by following categories - 1. Indian designed and manufactured 2. Screwdriverigiri 3. Direct imports. Might give a completely different story.

Did you even read the report before complaining? It's very clear viz context.

^^^Yes I did read it. They are rebadging DRDO progarms as Make-in-India - did we not buy any Indian weapons before MII?If they want to go to town about how money they have "saved" they better also provide data on how much they have "spent" - that is context.

Are you really serious or are you trolling? Who funds DRDO? Is it some entity known as the Govt of India? Who works with the services to ensure DRDO made equipment gets ordered? Is its some entity known as the Govt of India? So what is wrong in the Govt of India taking credit for the fact they have ensured DRDO programs and follow-on-programs are funded & ordered due to their MII plan, which have sent X amount of rupees to domestic industry as versus imports?

You have no context whatsoever, you made an off the cuff, inaccurate, rhetorical remark which contributed nothing to the discussion, and are attempting to justify that with more flippant commentary. The article's context was clear. It said in this specific instance, the GOI's MII theme has saved X amount of money by ensuring DRDO programs are ordered. That is so straight forward as to be completely pointless to even debate bar figuring out the exact revenue amount allocated to each program, and each program's details.

By early next year, the Indian Air Force could be having a new indigenously produced bomb for use against high-vale targets like airfields, railway yards, fortified bunkers and docks.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a 500-kg class bomb that would be manufactured by the local industry. “The design and development of the bomb has been completed and flight trials from Jaguar aircraft have already been undertaken,” a senior scientist said. “Certain trials of the bomb with the SU-30 fighter have been carried out and the remaining parameters would be evaluated in the coming weeks,” he added. Christened as the ‘500-kg General Purpose Bomb’, it is expected to be inducted into service by coming March or April.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation is looking at the private industry to transfer the technology for its commercial production. This is the heaviest bomb to be designed in the country so far. The bomb primarily consists of two main parts — the main body that would house the warhead and fuze and the tail unit with its fin assembly to stabilise its downward ballistic flight trajectory after release from the mother aircraft.

The bomb, made of specially forged high-grade steel, is about 10-ft in length and a little over a foot in diameter. It is expected to be armed with Torpex-4B type high explosive.

That forged steel body enables to be multi-purpose: blast, fragmentation and penetration.Usually filling is slightly less than 50%. Wonder if it has a tail fuze cavity.So now they have three types of this ordnance: 1000 lb MC, 450 kg HSLD and this 500 kg GP.

Kakarat wrote:I suggested this because I had once made a suggestion to the air force and after some time i got a mail from a air force ID if I was happy with the response if not asking me to reply to the mail. Hope yours also gets good response and keep checking through the link you get through mail

My grievance request for IDEX was closed with the following reasons: With regards to application submission, no specific acknowledgement is sent out to the applicants. If after pressing the submit button, application code is generated and is displayed to the applicant, it means that the application has been submitted.

Also in the FAQs on their website: The exact timelines for the result announcement will be announced by the Ministry after the close of the application period.

This, IMO, is BIG and great. I have also seen it in news reports so can be shared in open forum.

Our scientists and defence has developed a cutting-edge materials which is RADAR *and* Infrared absorbing. Will keep soldiers "invisible" and safe. This is, as far as I know, first of its kind in the world and really great. Congratulations.

Researchers from IIT Kanpur have developed cutting-edge metamaterials that will be of great importance in developing our country’s defence capabilities. Profs. Anantha Ramakrishnan, Department of Physics; J Ramkumar, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Kumar Vaibhav Srivastava, Department of Electrical Engineering have developed transparent RADAR absorbent material, the first in the world to cover all RADAR frequencies as well as textile-based material, non-detectable by RADAR, which can be used in uniforms for soldiers as well as skirtings for war machines.

They have also developed India’s first infrared absorbent metamaterial, meant to prevent hot objects from emitting infrared radiation, making them virtually undetectable at night. These will be crucial for keeping our defence systems and soldiers safe from attacks at night.

Nam good find. The video shows the mountain radar as being a variant of the DRDO Arudhra. Standing Committee on Defence report notes IAF has a stated requirement for 8 of these radars and AON has been given. Thanks to Arudhra, LRDE has scored another significant score of domestic AESAs and kudos to IAF for having LRDE develop the Arudhra entirely in-house.

Other radar orders include the Indra-1 and Indra-2, for which I dont have specific numbers at hand, though I remember the IAF ordered several Indra-2. The BFSR-SR, of which around 1500 were ordered, the AEW&C, of which 3 are order, then the Coastal Surveillance Radars - there must be a huge order there as well.

Upcoming programs in the short term, are Atulya ADFCR - which will replace the Flycatcher systems, several hundred need to be replaced over time. Then the QRSAM radars, again they will accompany the QRSAM orders. The Naval 3D surveillance radars will probably see a few more orders over the handful in service. AESA radars were planned for the IAC, quad-panel. The BMD program likely has 2 LRTRs and an equal number of indigenized MFCRs on order in Phase-1.

Akash orders in pipeline are for 7 more IAF squadrons and 2 more IA regiments, which means another 50 radars to accompany them.Akash NG will likely see entirely new radars developed. While the 3D CAR can be replaced by Ashwini, the FCR will likely be a derivative (higher powered) one of the QRSAM design.

The DRDO is also working on even longer range L Band radars for BMD and taking the existing radars further in sophistication (both hardware and software wise).

They have also begun some initial studies into more exotic designs, but these are early days. Lets see!

The biggest need of the hour is for the IAF to fund a DRDO program to adapt the Uttam for the Su-30 fleet and keep the program going and advancing beyond what it has achieved. A high density AESA on the Su-30 fleet, domestically sourced, can be a huge win for the IAF.Similarly Naval radars are stated to be on the anvil from Arudhra (DRDO press release). We should start focusing on longer range L band units too like SMART-L for naval applications.

Karan M wrote:AmberG, the report indicates two different metamaterials. Are you sure its one itself?

Yes, (there are two different materials). The same (at least the leadership) group of scientists have developed both One was done some time ago. Part which I think is cool that these material are flexible/cloth like.I don't think (or I don't know) there may not have been news reports about this up till now - something soon may be published. They have been working on it for years.. and they are very excited. From what they tell me, the thickness of material is only a few mm and can be used even in a uniform.

IT Kanpur‏@IITKanpur 16h16 hours agoMoreResearchers at IITK have developed textile-based metamaterials for radar absorption that can be used as uniforms for personnel & skirtings or coverings for ground vehicles.Transparent metamaterial absorbers have been developed for vehicular windshields or canopy of slow aircraft.

Karan M wrote:The biggest need of the hour is for the IAF to fund a DRDO program to adapt the Uttam for the Su-30 fleet and keep the program going and advancing beyond what it has achieved. A high density AESA on the Su-30 fleet, domestically sourced, can be a huge win for the IAF.Similarly Naval radars are stated to be on the anvil from Arudhra (DRDO press release). We should start focusing on longer range L band units too like SMART-L for naval applications.

The irony is Uttam is a better fit for Su30 at this stage compared to LCA. Putting Uttam on LCA means switching BVR or integration with Derby. For SU30 since Astra is already done, it is easier to put in Uttam! Moreover it is in the MLU phase as well and Russian hardly have cutting edge airborne AESA.

There seems to be no major hurry on Su30 uprgade, Uttam can definitely be considered.

Regarding the Naval radar, BEL has brought out Rawl-03 a GaN radar. SAAB says it is L band, BEL says it is C band!

Fitting Uttam onto any fighter will be a sizeable task. In the case of the Su-30, advantage of volume needs to be balanced out by the fact that its WCS is Russian, we will have a lot to integrate and fix. Russia does have an airborne AESA which is likely further ahead than Uttam, the one flying on the T-50. Question is whether Russia will allow us access to it, given the AESA would be a key thing to push T-50 to us.

The Band question could be simply referring to different nomenclatures. BEL could be using NATO designation ironically, which many OEMs are now increasingly using as a means of export standardization.. C band in that is 500MHz to 1 GHz. L Band in IEEE (which many other OEMs use), is 1-2 GHz and SAAB could be using that. In short, it is a L-Band (IEEE) radar and the original RAWL series were also L-Band ( L Band Surveillance Radar).